Air Transport
News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.
Aircraft
Airbus, Qatar Airways Settle A350 Surface Degradation Dispute
Following nearly two years of trading barbs, Airbus and Qatar Airways have reached an “amicable” settlement on their dispute over A350 surface degradation.
Airlines
Norwegian Low-cost Carrier Flyr Files for Bankruptcy
Flyr becomes the second European airline to cease operations in a week’s time.
Airports
Mekong Countries Pin Development Hopes on Airport Progress
Thailand's U-Tapao Airport to serve as heart of Southeast Asia's Eastern Economic Corridor
FAA Bolsters Safeguards for Notam Maintenance, Database
Acting FAA Administrator Billy Nolen said the agency has taken initial precautions to protect the notam database.
Aircraft
Boeing Delivers Final 747 to Atlas Air
Thousands of Boeing company employees, airline executives, lawmakers, and program luminaries celebrated the end of the 747’s 53-year production run.
Airlines
UK Regional Carrier Flybe Ceases Operations
Flybe, a regional airline in the United Kingdom, has entered insolvency for the second time since March 2020.
Aircraft
Boeing To Establish 737 Line in Everett, Washington
Now operating two of three lines in Renton, Boeing expects more demand for the 737 Max to require a fourth line at the former 787 assembly bay in Everett.
Aircraft
Embraer Confirms Launch Delay for Proposed Turboprop
Talks between Embraer and potential suppliers for a new turboprop have advanced more slowly than expected.
Aircraft
Airbus To Hire 13,000 Employees This Year
After adding 13,000 employees in 2022, Airbus plans to match that hiring volume this year.
Airlines
Chinese Airlines Ready To Rebuild Asia-Pacific Networks
Lunar New Year demand and the end of China's Zero-Covid policy and has seen the country's airlines aggressively resume international services.
Aircraft
Boom Breaks Ground on North Carolina Overture Plant
The Overture Superfactory would sit on a 62-acre campus at Greensboro, North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad International Airport.
Airlines
Somalian Airspace To Become Class A, Restoring ATC Services
The installation of modern navigation aids ends a 30-year interruption of full air traffic control operations over Somalia and the surrounding region.
Accidents
NTSB Finds More Problems with Final Report on ET Max Crash
Ethiopian authorities say an electrical problem caused the Max 8’s left AOA sensor to fail, an assertion disputed by the NTSB.
Aircraft
Asean Carriers Prepare for Post-pandemic Rebound
2023 is already seeing airlines in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations restore service, expand fleets, and enhance air connectivity in the region.
Airlines
Aviation Industry Applauds Delay of EU Biometric Border Checks
The EU has postponed the implementation of the Entry Exit System—the smart border system for non-EU nationals entering the bloc—beyond May.
Accidents
Boeing To Face Criminal Charges Related to Max Crashes
A Texas federal judge has ruled that Boeing must appear in court on January 26 for arraignment on criminal charges over two fatal 737 Max accidents.
Aircraft
ZeroAvia Achieves First Flight with Hydrogen-powered Airliner
ZeroAvia's hydrogen-powered Dornier 228 flew for the first time on Thursday.
Airlines
Lufthansa Offers To Buy Stake in Italy’s ITA Airways
Lufthansa has eyed participation in ITA and its predecessor Alitalia for years, and now appears to stand as the only interested party in the flag carrier.
Environment
NASA, Boeing To Fly Truss-braced-wing Demonstrator in 2028
The Sustainable Flight Demonstrator partnership between Boeing and NASA aims to cut fuel burn in narrowbody aircraft by 30 percent.
Aircraft
Ryanair’s Renewed Max 10 Talks with Boeing ‘Going Nowhere’
Europe’s largest low-cost carrier seeks Boeing 737 Max 10s to build the capacity it needs to annually fly 225 million passengers by March 2026.
Airlines
TUI Trains Eye on Transition to Boeing 737 Max and 787 Fleets
The Europe-wide fleet harmonization is part of a wider move to integrate the group’s five airlines in a “virtual” airline.
Aircraft
Avolon Sees Airline Traffic Reaching 2019 Levels by June
Asia will lead a traffic recovery this year as China reenters the market, according to Avolon.
Accidents
Nepal Recovers Flight Recorders Following Fatal ATR 72 Crash
Search and rescue personnel in Nepal’s Kaski district recovered the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of Yeti Airlines Flight YT691 on January 16.
Airlines
FAA Attributes Failure of Notam IT System to Human Error
IT personnel failed to follow procedure while working on the computer system that generates Notams, according to the FAA.
Airports
Airbus Tests Autonomous Flight Diversions, Taxiway Support
The aircraft maker's DragonFly technology could enable automated diversions in response to medical emergencies and improve safety at busy airports.
Airlines
FAA Blames Damaged Database File for Notam System Outage
Investigations into the latest air transport system meltdown in the U.S. begin as traffic flows return to normal after a software glitch grounds flights.
ATC
FAA Lifts Grounding Order Following U.S. Notam Outage
Normal airline operations resumed at about 9 a.m. after a failure of the U.S. notam system forced the cancellation of some 850 flights.
Safety
FAA Revises 5G AD Based on New Information
In its analysis of 5G cellphone network interference, the FAA found about 100 incidents where aircraft avionics were affected.
Aircraft
Airbus Falls Short of 2022 Delivery Target, Blames Supply Chain
Although supply chain constraints suppressed deliveries, both Airbus and Boeing registered strong sales campaigns last year.
Aircraft
Comac Readies C919 for Spring Service Launch
The Comac C919 program has started its second round of cabin crew training as the first production example participates in flight validation trials.
